Cerritos, CA – 3/11/09: Valley Christian High School’s Mandy Petrus, right, battles for control of the ball with Francis Parker High School’s Rachael Abernethy in the second half during a semifinal game of the CIF Southern Regional Division III playoffs at Valley Christian High School on Thursday. Francis Parker won 2-1.
Photo by Carlos Delgado / For the Press-Telegram

CERRITOS – The “Comeback Girls” were doing their thing in the second half once again Thursday evening.

So it was like a dagger through the heart when Parker High scored in stoppage time to defeat Valley Christian, 2-1, in a CIF Southern Regional Division III girls semifinal soccer game.

The Crusaders ended their season at 20-9-2.

“These kids gave it their all this season,” said coach Kim Looney. “When the chips have been down, we’ve come back. … Unfortunately, we gave that goal up at the end. I am so proud of these kids. We can walk off the field with our chins up. We had a good ride.”

After being dominated for much of the first half and rallying behind some spirited play in the second half – the Crusaders’ M.O. this year en route to the CIF finals and regionals – Valley Christian seemed to be the team to net the game-winner late.

Instead, it was Parker (19-4-5), from the CIF San Diego Section.

Rachael Abernethy took a long pass in the penalty box, made a move on a pair of V.C. defenders and found a way to get the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Kristen Barca.

V.C. hurried to kick the ball off and got it deep into Parker territory as the referee blew the final whistle.

The Crusaders were without the services of two of their top players – midfielders Hayley Haagsma and Caryann Parrish, who left to rejoin their club teams.

But their replacements did a good job as the game wore on, especially Jacqueline Lara in the middle against Lancers star Zuri Walker.

With Walker contained for the most part – she was still a factor on corner kicks – Valley Christian took charge early in the second half.

Just two minutes in, the Crusaders struck for the equalizer. A throw-in went off the heads of Lara, Michelle Mellinger and Alisha Del Toro and off the goal post, where Kailie Gulmatico finally tapped the ball in.

The game was going Valley Christian’s way.

“We have been the comeback girls all year,” Looney said. “We get that first goal and keep coming.”

In the 60th minute, the Crusaders were within inches of getting the go-ahead goal, but Parker’s Olivia Ching slid in the goal mouth to clear the ball off the line.